Ramblings of an Emergency Physician in Texas

Archives for January 23, 2007

This week at Signout, which has been assimilated by the Science Blogs borg:

At about this time last week, I asked for bloggers’ thoughts on the interface of scientific evidence with health and health care. In an unscientific poll of the blogosphere, about 40% of you gave this theme the finger, while about 60% of you found it interesting to the point of arousal. To the first group, I say, I hope we can still be friends. Meanwhile, the second group should sit quietly and think about what it has done.

Next week’s host has clearly been keeping up with the ‘theme’ issue, and wants one, but isn’t being exclusive about it (good marketing!).

Akron doctor leads national ER group

Disaster preparedness among major issues

By Cheryl Powell

Beacon Journal medical writer

An Akron doctor who has dedicated a quarter of a century to handling local emergencies now is tackling health-care crises on a national level.

Dr. Brian F. Keaton, an emergency medicine doctor in Akron’s Summa Health System, recently started a one-year term as president of the American Academy of Emergency Physicians, a national nonprofit group.

He takes the helm at a time when issues such as emergency-room overcrowding, disaster preparedness and the growing number of uninsured are grabbing national attention.

Q: What are your responsibilities as president of the American Academy of Emergency Physicians?

Q: What tips would you give for patients for best utilizing emergency rooms?

A: The first thing you want to do is not need to come here. Preventive care, common sense and following the treatment plan that has been agreed upon by you and your primary-care physician can keep you healthier and eliminate the need for you to be here. If you find that you’re suddenly ill or injured, then we’re open 24-seven, 365. But we rather you not have to come here.

If you do come in, there are certain things you need to bring with you. Bring your list of medicines, or the bottles. Bring your list of allergies. Don’t make the assumption that I have those. Bring your list of doctors and their contact information, especially if you’re from out of town…. If you have a list of medical problems, you want to bring it with you.

When you come into the department, you need to be straightforward in terms of your complaint. We have people who come in that minimize their complaint, and they tend not to get the attention they need. We have people who come in who overplay their complaint, thinking it will get them taken care of quicker — and it may, but it makes it a lot tougher to make the diagnosis and provide the appropriate treatment.